A group of rare breed pigs at Bicton College are attracting national attention, after a successful summer of shows and an effective breeding programme.

The Oxford Sandy and Black and Berkshire pigs have celebrated a series of wins this year, including two firsts, a second, two thirds, Reserve Female Champion Berkshire and Reserve Breed Champion Berkshire at Devon County Show. Bicton College works closely with the Rare Breeds Survival Trust to deliver education, training and support for breeding programmes and activities that help conserve rare breeds across the region.

Last year Bicton College became the first Rare Breeds Survival Trust College and was chosen to develop a small scale Berkshire and Oxford and Sandy Black pig unit. Bicton College currently has six Berkshire and two Oxford Sandy and Black pigs at the farm, which, despite being their smallest enterprise, form part of the education for the widest range of groups including 14 to 16 learners, Animal Care, Agriculture and Foundation Learning students.

Bicton College Farm Manager, Gareth Wyn-Evans, said: “The pigs offer us a great opportunity to demonstrate vertical integration to our students, and the whole chain from piglet to plate. The pig unit can be used to demonstrate selection genetics, weighing, serving, caring for the mother, farrowing, caring for the young piglets and value-adding, so it’s of huge benefit to students at Bicton.”

Vikki Mills from the Rare Breeds Survival Trust said: “As a long time breeder and Judge of Berkshire pigs, I was delighted when Bicton College selected this breed to have at the college farm. This year’s award winning animal is now in pig to a prize winning boar and if all goes they’ll be able to fly the Bicton-Berkshire flag at next year's show alongside one or two of her progeny.”

For more information on the range of agricultural and animal management courses available across The Cornwall College Group visit www.bicton.ac.uk or call 01395 562400.